Hobie Forums
http://www.hobie.com/forums/

Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input please.
http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=46281
Page 1 of 2

Author:  uno mas [ Thu Jan 17, 2013 1:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input please.

Hey gang,
I'm working directly with Float-On trailers to come up with a couple of well made kayak trailer designs geared toward fishing kayaks. They have been making the stack-on type for touring kayaks but not really for fishing kayaks.
I would love some ideas to pass along to these guys on what would be something people will buy.
I know price is important, but figure a trailer this quality will still be $1000? 1500?
Not for everyone I know, but there are those of with 2 or more high end kayaks who want a high quality trailer, or those who travel the interstates or long distances (we did nearly 6,000 miles on ours last year), and need a trailer that can handle it.
Aluminum construction, 12" wheels, torsion axles will be standard. Also working on a locking aluminum box for mirage drives or other gear.
I would love some ideas to pass along.
I know there are plenty of guys who are NOT interested in this type I trailer and I appreciate that. But there are plenty who are--like me. I'd love to help Float-on bring a good useful trailer to market.

I have video on YouTube with the trailer I put together, that Float-on is using as a 'template'. YouTube channel is grass flats mafia.

some of the ideas i have gotten from other forums are:

light weight so a car can tow it--good idea, but Float-On only uses aluminum I-beam construction. i am told it will weigh 'a couple hundred pounds'.
torsion axles to match load. problem with 'jet ski' trailer or utility trailers is spring suspension which is too heavy for kayaks and they can be beat to death.
LED lighting--of course.
aluminum storage box for mirage drive/PFDs or other gear
locking storage box for rods. great idea--but keep in mind it will drive up price.
LED overhead lighting of some sort--for pre-dawn rigging. great idea and we are going to try to incorporate that in ours for sure.
12" wheels standard--no bicycle tires or lawnmower tires.
70"+/- full size axle. short little axles are too squirrelly at highway speeds.
someone recommended electric brakes. not sure i would need them, but anyone else?

i know there is a lot of discussion on here about trailers, and there are differences of opinion. i get that. no worries. we are having ours built so the kayaks will ride just about fender height. i can see them when towing and backing, and it gives me space underneath for a locking rod locker--i think. also, i prefer sideways bunks to load from the side, slide one boat from side to side. but, i know some like the bunks running the traditional way, and like the PVC rail system. pretty sure Float-ON can do either / or, for whatever taste.

any other ideas for that 'perfect' trailer for an interstate speed, long distance trailer?

guys with only one boat, who would like to see a single boat trailer, what would you like to see?

btw, we are paying for our trailer--no commission or agreement with Float-On. they are a business neighbor, with their factory a few doors down from my business and just want to help a local business and maybe help some kayak anglers all in the process.

cheers.
drew

trying to attach a pic of their 'standard' stackable trailer. the basic trailer seen will be the platform from which they will work off of.

Image

Author:  VaBeach1 [ Thu Jan 17, 2013 1:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

Based on my experience:

I purchased a trailer ($300 harbor freight) because it was easier on my back and saved a lot of loading/unloading time. I went cheap because I dont plan on driving far distances (more than an hour or so) from my house to fish. Being 5'8, Topping an Outback on top of my Jeep (lifted with 37"s) was a little difficult (do'able, but difficult).

Now I am able to leave all of my rigging and poles on the kayak and easily roll it onto the trailer with some custom rollers.

I would think that many Kayak owners would like an option to easily load their kayak onto the trailer with their gear on it. Most of the "Good" trailers out there are too high to acomplish this...

Author:  Tom Kirkman [ Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

Just make sure the torsion bars or springs are not overly stiff for the light loads involved regarding plastic kayaks.

Author:  uno mas [ Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

Tom Kirkman wrote:
Just make sure the torsion bars or springs are not overly stiff for the light loads involved regarding plastic kayaks.


sub 1000lb axles to be sure. trailer at 'a couple hundred pounds', and a pair of PA14s for example, at another couple pounds (figure 200 lbs each, with drives and gear), puts you at 6 to 800 pounds or so.

cheers.
drew

Author:  MrGreen [ Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

Bearing Buddy's, shielded wiring harness, and either some form of protection for the brake lights or placed in a location where not too susceptible to being hit by morons

Author:  Tom Kirkman [ Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

Just thought of one more, and if you can do, you'll be the first...

A license tag holder/fixture that is out of the way yet doesn't get scraped or bent every time you pull out of the driveway or up a boat ramp.

Author:  MrGreen [ Thu Jan 17, 2013 5:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

Tom, I mounted my plate on a S/S door hinge for that purpose. It tends to flap a bit when traveling but after two broken holders and rebending the plate several times it works great.

Author:  Tom Kirkman [ Thu Jan 17, 2013 5:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

Great idea.

Author:  uno mas [ Thu Jan 17, 2013 6:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

yup yup. stainless piano hinge license plate holder. great idea.

cheers.
drew

Author:  FishIt [ Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

Uno Mas wrote:

"i think. also, i prefer sideways bunks to load from the side, slide one boat from side to side. but, i know some like the bunks running the traditional way, and like the PVC rail system. pretty sure Float-ON can do either / or, for whatever taste. "

Loading sideways, you'd have to lift up over the wheels... easier to roll on from the rear... Lift half the weight, set it on the roller, lift the other half and slide it into place... Piece of cake!

Author:  uno mas [ Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

Our current trailer we load from the side. Many places we visit are side of the road launches. Much easier to load from one side, slide boat over an load the other. Our current rails are like thigh high. Easy. And I want them 'high' for rigging in the garage or at the ramp. No bending.
But, just my preference on that one.

Cheers
Drew

Author:  Thinwater skinner [ Fri Jan 18, 2013 1:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

removable tongue to store in the garage against the wall or in front to the car.

Author:  uno mas [ Tue Feb 05, 2013 7:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

trailer design #1 complete and construction under way.
teaser photo....


Image



lol. it's farther along than that. i'll have a whole montage highlighting the features and function once everything is all done.

cheers.
drew

Author:  uno mas [ Wed Mar 06, 2013 5:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

please don't make fun, i have a terrible voice and this was my first attempt at voiceover, but here's the nickel tour of the prototype Float-On kayak tournament grade trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q319BUVKjw

Author:  FishIt [ Wed Mar 06, 2013 9:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Professionally made tournament kayak trailer, input plea

Right-side-up on cross-rails? Everybody tells me that's the wrong way...

What would a production model of this trailer cost?

Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/